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Tourism business operators in Pattaya are calling on the government to alleviate the city's water shortage problems lest they affect the annual tourism revenue of around 50 billion baht, writes SUPRADIT KANWANICH
http://www.bangkokpost.com/110905_Perspective/11Sep2005_pers02.php

In a letter to Prime Minister Taksin Shinawatra, Thanet Supornsahasrungsi, president of the Association of Business and Tourism Operators of Pattaya City, and Miss Bundarik Kusolvitya, president of the Thai Hotel Association Eastern Chapter, noted that the water shortage problem in Pattaya city had become a very serious issue for the tourism industry.

Pattaya, with a permanent population of around 300,000, also has over 50,000 rooms in guesthouses, apartments and hotels for the city's visitors. In all around 150,000 cubic metres (cu m) of water is needed daily in peak tourist times. During the present low tourist season, the Irrigation Department and the East Water Public Company supply about 80,000 cu m daily to the Provincial Waterworks Authority of Pattaya to process as tap water for the resort city.

The rumblings from the water shortage were first felt in a big way in April, when most tourism and hotel operators had to look elsewhere to find enough water to supply their needs. There were numerous complaints that the quality of the imported water was inadequate and the prices were rather high.

A story appeared in a Hong Kong magazine in which a reporter wrote that he had checked into a hotel in Pattaya and developed a rash after his bath. The reporter told how he later followed a water truck from the hotel to the water source. After a visual inspection of the water there, he concluded that the quality was not suitable for bathing. The article also implied that the water was contaminated with chemicals that could cause skin problems.

Since the coverage in the magazine, many tourist excursions out of Hong Kong to Pattaya have been cancelled and tour agencies from several other countries have asked for clarification of the problems from the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Pattaya Office.

The tourism industry in Pattaya is alarmed that such publicity could have a truly damaging effect. If the situation remains unchanged it might be difficult to convince those in tourism markets overseas that Pattaya is the usual desirable destination for the coming high season from November to March.

Sense of urgency called for Mr Thanet and Miss Bundarik called for the acceleration of projects to increase the raw supply of water to the Provincial Waterworks Authority of Pattaya.

These include a piping and distribution system from the Bang Prakong River in Chachoengsao to the Bang Phra reservoir in Chon Buri and connected to the Mab Prachan reservoir in Pattaya.

The project is scheduled to be completed by January.

They called for government support of a proposed project to treat wastewater from Pattaya city to be used as tap water. The project which could treat up to 40,000 cu m a day could cost up to 400 million baht, excluding the cost of piping the wastewater the 5 kilometres from the treatment plant to the Mab Prachan reservoir.

The pair also came out in support of a controversial desalination project, even though the initial investment would be rather high. Such projects have been implemented in several areas such as Koh Larn off Pattaya City, Koh Si Chang off Sri Racha district in Chon Buri and the Esso refinery plant, also at Sri Racha.

Expansion of artificial rainmaking to make clouds give up their moisture over catchment areas was also seen as an option, as was greater investment in developing artesian wells in the area.

They urged for long-term water management planning, noting that the East has been the site of rapid industrial expansion, especially in Chon Buri and Rayong, which requires tremendous amounts of water. Moreover, the tourist sector continues to boom.

Pattaya experienced a 20 per cent increase from October 2003 to September 2004, for a total of 4.8 million tourists. The figure is expected to climb further with the completion of Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

Migration into the area should also increase along with the traffic at Laem Chabang port in Sri Racha district in Chon Buri, which has been designated to replace Klong Toey pier in Bangkok.

Thanet and Bundarik concluded their missive to the prime minister with a suggestion that he set up joint committee with representatives from industry, tourism, agriculture and all other concerned sectors, to plot the course for sustainable water management in the East.
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